REAL Exclusive Magazine

Global Entrepreneur

By Sara Hand

Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) – ran from November 12th through 18th where more than 100 countries across 6 continents participated in more than 30,000 total activities! Launched in 2007 by Carl Schramm, President and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation and Gordon Brown, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; this “movement” has grown significantly since its inception. With the strategic aim to foster innovation and creative leadership accompanying the spirit of entrepreneurship across the globe in young people; students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, non-profits, government officials and more engage each year.

More than 150 cities around the world hosted Startup Weekends helping to educate over 15,000 entrepreneurs and launching over 560 new startup ventures. In Tampa, this event was led by entrepreneur Susie Steiner. Startup Weekend Tampa was an intense 54 hour event where a community of entrepreneurs, startup enthusiasts, developers, designers, marketing gurus and anyone interested in building a business came together over the course of a weekend to share ideas, form teams, and launch a startup. No Talk, All Action. Launch a Startup in 54 hours: tampa.startupweekend.org

The Gulf Coast Venture Forum, along with our growing list of community partners, was proud to support several events that took place in Southwest Florida during Global Entrepreneurship Week. From entrepreneurial awards in Charlotte County, TEDx Sarasota on Creativity in Entrepreneurship and the introduction of StartupChicks – we continue to say that regionally we are so much more than tourism and construction.

“Global Entrepreneurship Week is a great opportunity to showcase what thousands of organizations already do to help foster a culture that embraces innovation, imagination and creativity. Through this initiative, the next generation of entrepreneurs is inspired and can emerge. In doing so, they will begin to acquire the knowledge, skills and networks needed to grow innovative, sustainable enterprises that have a positive impact on their lives, their families and communities.” www.GEWUSA.org

Developing entrepreneurs is not the same as developing inventors. Although innovation is important for entrepreneurs, it is important to note the word entrepreneur first used in 1882 shares the same root as the word enterprise. Webster’s defines enterprising as marked by an independent, energetic spirit and by readiness to act. Entrepreneurs act. They make things happen. They take risks. Entrepreneurs, from both the profit and non-profit sectors, are leaders.

The initiative to develop entrepreneurs is making an impact beyond GEW. Across the country and year round – events, programs and resources are being made available to facilitate these exciting activities. If you would like to be a part of this “movement”, you can find more information at www.genglobal.org. Connect to others involved through these social media channels: Twitter.com/GEWUSA, LinkedIn.com/GEWUSA, Facebook.com/GEWUSA, YouTube.com/Unleashingideas and Flickr.com/photos/unleashingideas

The dates for Global Entrepreneurship Week over the next several years:
2012 – November 12 – 18
2013 – November 18 – 24
2014 – November 17 – 23
2015 – November 16 – 22

Our world in some ways becomes smaller as it continues to become more connected through the technologies that have transformed our lives. The challenges that we face and how we choose to respond to those challenges, allow us to make greater impacts on our circles of influence than ever before. As communities across the world unite in this effort for one week each year, join with us and become a part of the solution.

Managing Partner for S P Hand and Associates, Sara Hand specializes in developing creative strategies for business growth with a strong focus on implementation. She is President of the Sarasota Chapter Gulf Coast Venture Forum, co-founder of BarCamp Sarasota, on the Board of Directors for the Sun Coast Technology Forum and is involved regionally in collaborative efforts for Entrepreneurial Support organizations across SWFL. Sara may be reached at (941) 228.4033 or sara@sphandandassociates.com.